Mr. Day Serves Up Civics Lesson in Advance of U.S. Election

In anticipation of U.S. Election Day next Tuesday, November 5, Head of School Chris Day P’12,’13 offered our community a valuable civics lesson on the U.S. presidential election process at our all-school meeting this week. Drawing on his experience as a former history teacher, Mr. Day provided a comprehensive look at the Electoral College, the electoral timeline, and the changing dynamics of the American election landscape.

Mr. Day explained the Electoral College, emphasizing its critical role in the presidential election. Each state is awarded a specific number of electoral votes equivalent to its total representation in Congress—one vote for each senator and representative. These numbers are adjusted every ten years based on population data from the U.S. Census, reflecting shifts in state populations and ensuring proportional representation. Mr. Day outlined the timeline from Election Day, when citizens cast their popular votes, to the formal gathering of electors in December who cast the official electoral votes, followed by the final certification in Congress on January 6, 2025. This overview clarified each step, allowing students to understand how each stage contributes to the election’s outcome.

Mr. Day also touched on the evolving electoral map, using maps from the 2012, 2016, and 2020 elections to illustrate that as state demographics and economic conditions change, so does voting behavior, creating battleground or “swing” states. These states—like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, and Georgia—have become focal points in recent elections due to their unpredictable voting patterns and large number electoral votes, making them highly competitive and crucial to the candidates’ campaign strategies.

Throughout the meeting, several students asked thoughtful questions, demonstrating genuine interest and curiosity about the democratic process. Mr. Day’s insights and interactive approach helped foster a sense of civic engagement among the students, equipping them with a foundational knowledge of the electoral system and encouraging them to become informed, active participants in democracy. The lesson not only informed but also inspired students to think critically about the role they will eventually play as future voters.